Trenton, NJ — From a biotechnology company that develops biomarkers in blood to detect cancer to a technology business that connects local farmers and food gardeners, a broad spectrum of early-stage companies on April 27 participated in the latest New Jersey Founders & Funders event.

The afternoon-long event, hosted by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), gave entrepreneurs from more than two-dozen New Jersey technology and life sciences companies the opportunity to meet one-on-one with potential investors.

Held at the EDA’s Commercialization Center for Innovative Technologies (CCIT) in North Brunswick, New Jersey Founders & Funders enables early-stage New Jersey businesses to meet with investors in 10-minute, “speed dating” sessions to discuss strategy, business models and funding opportunities.

These discussions help the early-stage companies gain critical insight on how best to position their startups within the Garden State’s vibrant technology ecosystem.

​Including the participants, a total of more than 225 businesses have met with over 70 different investors during New Jersey Founders & Funders events, leading to 1,240 subsequent meetings.

“The volume of innovations coming out of the Garden State is staggering,” EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen said.

“New Jersey Founders & Funders,” Orsen continued, “connects emerging companies with access to funding and guidance from investors to help them grow, while at the same time showcasing the up-and-coming businesses in our State.”

The following were among the 28 companies that participated in today’s event:

Research and development biotechnology company Biotech Support Group, based in Monmouth Junction, is developing methods to monitor protein biomarkers to support liquid biopsy tests for personalized medicine in cancer. Company Founder and President Swapan Roy, PhD, says that these monitors will lead to new ways to manage cancer, particularly with respect to early detection and therapeutic decisions.

Egg Harbor City-based Alfrea, Inc. has developed a platform that creates a virtual community among farmers and food gardeners. Alfrea’s website helps connects people who want to grow food or participate in the local food movement with resources they need to succeed. Alfrea connects people to land to grow food, people and experts to help them succeed and connects people with an online farmers’ markets where they can sell their crops and share their excess with neighbors.

Three years after being involved in a life-altering accident that left him in need of a professional caregiver, first-time entrepreneur Ron Gold launched LeanOnWe, of Saddle River, as way to help other families that need in-home care. LeanOnWe pre-screens home caregivers and uses a proprietary algorithm to match them with families based on skills, experience, culture, interest, language and more. LeanOnWe has been profiled in such media outlets as Huffington Post, Forbes and the Star Ledger.

The April 27 event featured 20 participating venture and angel investors from around the region, including Milestone Venture Partners, BrandProject and Casabona Ventures, LLC.

The EDA hosts New Jersey Founders & Funders events semi-annually. The next event is scheduled for the fall of 2017 and registration can be accessed via https://application.njeda.com/tls/.

To stimulate growth of New Jersey’s innovation economy and drive commercialization of pioneering technology within the state, the EDA offers a continuum of assistance specifically designed to help technology and biotechnology companies at every stage of growth.

From networking and mentoring opportunities, such as New Jersey Founders and Funders, to financial assistance such as loans and tax credits, hundreds of entrepreneurs, emerging businesses and established companies benefit from EDA support each year.

Examples of this support include the New Jersey Angel Investor Tax Credit Program, the State’s Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer (NOL) Program and resources available through CCIT.

The event also gave participants the chance to visit CCIT, New Jersey’s only life sciences incubator. Home to nearly two dozen businesses, CCIT is ideal for emerging companies looking to grow in the Garden State.

The 46,000-square-foot CCIT has 27 wet labs and offers tenants access to offices, conference rooms, a supportive staff and a variety of additional resources.

The incubator is located within the Technology Centre of New Jersey, a 75-acre research park that houses such companies as Chromocell and Orthobond (both of which are CCIT graduates), Allergan and Merial. Companies interested in touring CCIT should visit www.njeda.com/CCIT or contact Lenzie Harcum at lharcum@njeda.com.

To learn about the various programs available to support the technology industry, visit http://www.njeda.com/tls and follow @NJEDATech on Twitter and LinkedIn.